Our 6.6mx9.3m (~22'x31') attached garage/workshop in Australia

[BBChevro]

...being clearanced at his local Bunnings in Sydney. Seemed to be a local thing, as they weren't in the stores up here, and he was kind enough to grab them for me...

A few years back, while I was out with the family in another part of town, I ducked into a nearby Bunnings for something (as you do) and noticed a "blackboard special" for a pressure washer, that I thought was a pretty good deal.
I resisted the urge to impulse buy as the shop was only about 30 minutes from home, so I thought I could return later if need be.

I decided it was too good to pass up, but I thought I would ask at my local Bunnings first - they made a phone call to the other store to confirm the deal, then not only matched the price, but beat it by a further 10% !!!
I know that they used to advertise that if you found a better price for the same product (on a stocked item), that they'd beat it by 10% - but I never expected it for one of their own stores.

It looks like you got a good deal anyway Andrew, and the "on a stocked item" clause would have negated any further discount and I'm not sure if it was part of their policy or the staff member got it wrong - but I got a very good deal.

 

[metalhead140]

Big day today... Worked this morning, but came home to what felt like (a vice themed) Christmas come early:



First up, new jaws for the 6" Dawn:



Then:



9" Joplin (Dawn manufactured) woodworking vice:



And finally (check out those stamps, half of them are old 45c ones!):



A cross vice for use on the drill press:

A few years back, while I was out with the family in another part of town, I ducked into a nearby Bunnings for something (as you do) and noticed a "blackboard special" for a pressure washer, that I thought was a pretty good deal.
I resisted the urge to impulse buy as the shop was only about 30 minutes from home, so I thought I could return later if need be.

I decided it was too good to pass up, but I thought I would ask at my local Bunnings first - they made a phone call to the other store to confirm the deal, then not only matched the price, but beat it by a further 10% !!!
I know that they used to advertise that if you found a better price for the same product (on a stocked item), that they'd beat it by 10% - but I never expected it for one of their own stores.

It looks like you got a good deal anyway Andrew, and the "on a stocked item" clause would have negated any further discount and I'm not sure if it was part of their policy or the staff member got it wrong - but I got a very good deal.

That's crazy! You're right, wouldn't have worked in this case as it wasn't a stocked item, but I've definitely taken note for the future!

 

[metalhead140]

Spent some time trying to get the Dawn ready for its new jaws. One jaw was already detached when I bought it, so that was easy... As for the other side, well I will beat it, but not yet...

The screw heads had become one with the faces of the jaws, so the first thing I tried was grinding back the jaw to locate the screw and cutting some slots:



But no luck, stuck solid. So I tried drilling the centres of the screws and extracting with an easy out (note use of new drill press vice):



But nope, still no luck. So I drilled the heads off the screws and was able to remove the jaw, but so far have had no luck removing the remainder of the screws with either vice grips or easy outs. Will try again tomorrow, but at this point will likely end up drilling out the remainder of the bolts and tapping to a larger thread size I suspect...

Check out the difference between old and new jaws and bolts. This vice has seen some (ab)use!:



Joplin awaiting its bench to be built. It's really nice, no slop, very happy with it. :

 

[1/2 Cup]

Great scores all round Andrew, they should all come up a treat.

Regards

 

[vortex]

I have a Dawn vice I got from my late Grandfather after he passed away, great vice! I've been contemplating dismantling it and giving it a clean up and a coat of paint to finish it off. It'll need a sandblast I think.

I also have about 3824832 jobs to do before that gets to the top of my priority list

 

[metalhead140]

Great scores all round Andrew, they should all come up a treat.

Regards

I think so, thanks 1/2 cup!

I have a Dawn vice I got from my late Grandfather after he passed away, great vice! I've been contemplating dismantling it and giving it a clean up and a coat of paint to finish it off. It'll need a sandblast I think.

I also have about 3824832 jobs to do before that gets to the top of my priority list

Nice one! Definitely worth cleaning up and hanging onto, particularly with sentimental value like that as well. The old Dawns are great vices. I believe the new ones are still very good too, but too much $$ for me.

Thanks for the comments guys, keeps me motivated. I didn't make much more progress with the vice yesterday, got called in for work again. But I did spend a bit more time on those jaw bolts and they're not coming out. Think I'll be drilling them out and either tapping for oversize bolts or helicoiling back down to the correct thread. Oh well! Jenna had some fun with the engine for the BMW too, but it's back in the car now, hopefully have it running and back in use by next weekend. Bit of a frustrating weekend, but progress was made!

Cheers,

Andrew.

 

[ODIS]

Great thread! Great pictures! BEAUTIFUL VIEWS!

Ody.

 

[80WTI_55_CHEV]

Great score on the vices Andrew, i have 4 vices setup in different parts of the shed and still i would like a couple more, i can't get over how worn out the jaws are on the Dawn vice, it looks like the previous owner got his money's worth out of her. Those benches look ****** good to mate, keep up the great work. Lee

 

[HSpencer]

I just did a complete run through your thread tonight. Everything looks super. Your garage is looking quite professional and shop like. Love your home and area. I think your set up to do about anything you need to. Excellent photos and I really did enjoy your entire thread.

Best Regards
Herb

 

[metalhead140]

I haven't made any updates here for ages, as I wanted to finish off the bench first and we've had a lot of other things happening so it still isn't done. But we did a big tidy up last Sunday, including moving the various cupboards we've picked up over to the far wall and removing the dodgy shelf that was there, and things are looking a lot better. Before that it had got to the point I didn't even want to go out there, it was just a disaster with bits and pieces, parts, tools, sawdust, and oil and coolant spills everywhere.

The f250 is up on the hoist at the moment with the gearbox out (using the gearbox jack) and all the parts are there waiting for it to go back together, hopefully we might get to it this weekend, but we have hired some equipment and are fertilising the paddock this weekend, so it may not happen until next weekend. I hope to also get the engine and box pulled from the Midget next weekend and get down to Sydney to visit Dellows to see if they can work out why it keeps destroying clutches (it has a Dellows bellhousing to fit a Toyota 5 speed box). It's been sitting since we moved, but we want to go to the MG National Meeting at Easter, so need to get a move on sorting it out.

Left end of the bench is nearly finished, just need to add a brace where the two halves join, do some final fitting of the woodworking vice, and top with weathertex. Then fit some doors underneath to keep out the dust. Still haven't made any of the tool carts or filled in the floor around the hoist ramps... Time I suppose. Also have to get the shipping container moved, finish the last couple of bits of fencing (nearly complete now though) and finish fitting out the cupboards inside the house... If we could just find a few extra hours in the day it might someday get done! 12 months this weekend since we moved in, and there's a lot I thought we would have done by now that we haven't. But I guess when I look at it, there's also quite a lot that we have got done.

Great thread! Great pictures! BEAUTIFUL VIEWS!

Ody.

Thanks!

Great score on the vices Andrew, i have 4 vices setup in different parts of the shed and still i would like a couple more, i can't get over how worn out the jaws are on the Dawn vice, it looks like the previous owner got his money's worth out of her. Those benches look ****** good to mate, keep up the great work. Lee

Yep, still haven't decided 100% which vice to use where, we already have a cheapy cast 4", and a steel fabricated 4" too... I blame Garage Journal entirely for this!

I just did a complete run through your thread tonight. Everything looks super. Your garage is looking quite professional and shop like. Love your home and area. I think your set up to do about anything you need to. Excellent photos and I really did enjoy your entire thread.

Best Regards
Herb

Thanks Herb! I've been reading your thread ever since I started on this site, so that means a lot.

 

[1/2 Cup]

Where is the national MG meet Andrew?

 

[metalhead140]

When I posted earlier I didn't have any pictures to load up, so I very quickly snapped a few when I got home from work, sorry about the crummy pics.

The main improvement from last weekend, ripping down a shelf from here and placing our various mismatched cupboards on this wall:



The other side currently:



Gearbox waiting for a clean and to be bolted back in:



A couple more of where the bench is currently up to, please excuse the mess:

Where is the national MG meet Andrew?

Changes every year, but it's at Yarra Valley this year, so only about 2 hours from you!: http://www.mgcc.com.au/natmeet2015/index.html

 

[sean Buick 76]

You have a nice functioning shop, very nice to see the projects going on. I have done work like you are doing without a lift and it is a real pain... I look forward to more updates, but fully understand you are busy getting things done and cannot always post on here... Cheers!

 

[metalhead140]

You have a nice functioning shop, very nice to see the projects going on. I have done work like you are doing without a lift and it is a real pain... I look forward to more updates, but fully understand you are busy getting things done and cannot always post on here... Cheers!

Thanks Sean! There's a long way to go to get the garage how we want it, but it is already a nicer place to work than we've had before by a long way. We have done this kind of work before many times too, even without a garage or concrete to lie on, just helps us appreciate the hoist so much more, it really does make a huge difference in how difficult and unpleasant such jobs can be. I have been busy, but to be honest the reason for not posting more recently is mostly that I wanted to have more to show when I did post! Oh well, maybe it's better to post the small steps, the comments and discussion on here certainly helps to keep motivated and progressing. Glad to see things seem to be going well with you and the new addition to your family.

Cheers,

Andrew.

 

[metalhead140]

Got a small amount of time in the garage, got a weeping welsh plug replaced on the f250 as well as cleaned up the gearbox a bit and installed the new clutch release bearing ready to stick it back in. Not much time though, as we were finishing off the paddock this morning and my brother and his wife came to visit for a few hours this afternoon. Fortunately the rain arrived last night and it drizzled all day today, perfect for watering in the fertiliser and fresh seed/soil in the paddock.

So are you going to come to MG Natmeet 1/2 Cup? Or will we have to come over and visit you?

 

[metalhead140]

Another brief bit of time in the garage, I have the gearbox and starter back in the f250. Just got to finish connecting it all back up, and replace the brake line I broke, and it will be mobile again. Still have to replace the floorpans, but will dedicate a long weekend to that at some point as I've decided I really need to pull the cab to do it properly. I have got replacement floorpans ready to go though, you can see them waiting on top of the cupboards in the picture a few posts back. First though, I want to get the Midget sorted and back on the road. Plan at this point is to get the engine and box pulled (hopefully this weekend) and organise a day off work to travel down to Dellows and hope they can work out what the problem is. If I'm really lucky I might even get it back together for the first club hillclimb of the year on the 15th of Feb. Fingers crossed.

 

[sean Buick 76]

Keep up the good work... I can see the wrenches turning from here

 

[HSpencer]

Man I like that wood working vise. I have scoured the plains around here for the last two years searching for a used one like that. Vises, in total, are not often discounted here. Especially Wilton Machinist Vises. Things here that people have gotten hung up on pricing high are:

Wilton Vise
Craftsman "block" grinders
Vintage auto parts cabinets
Floor Jacks
Metal parts bins

The "sellers" around here have begun to know what we GJ people want and are pricing it accordingly!!!

I also fell in love with the machine vise for the drill press you have!!

Best Regards
Herb

 

[metalhead140]

Keep up the good work... I can see the wrenches turning from here

Thanks. It was good to be able to get something done on a weeknight, normally things are too busy. Also, I made the progress quite quickly, a job that has been very painful before (lifting, aligning and bolting up the gearbox) was surprisingly easy (relatively) with the hoist and gearbox jack. Man I love having these things! So much more motivating than lying under a car outside on stands doing pushups on a gearbox and trying to align it so it will slide home!

Man I like that wood working vise. I have scoured the plains around here for the last two years searching for a used one like that. Vises, in total, are not often discounted here. Especially Wilton Machinist Vises. Things here that people have gotten hung up on pricing high are:

Wilton Vise
Craftsman "block" grinders
Vintage auto parts cabinets
Floor Jacks
Metal parts bins

The "sellers" around here have begun to know what we GJ people want and are pricing it accordingly!!!

I also fell in love with the machine vise for the drill press you have!!

Best Regards
Herb

Thanks Herb, it's interesting how pricing varies. Everything in general is expensive here in Aus, but you can still get a good deal on older Australian made tools if you take your time and keep an eye out. There was a lot of them made, and there is a lot of industry that has closed over the past 20 years. It is getting harder though, that's for sure. The machine vice is a cheapy, and not brilliantly made, but I didn't pay much for it and it will do what I need it to. I'm happy with it.

 

[BBChevro]

...Man I love having these things! So much more motivating than lying under a car outside on stands doing pushups on a gearbox and trying to align it so it will slide home! ...

Yep, you've brought it all back Andrew - I can almost feel the weight of a Muncie crushing my ribs as I contemplate the next (hopefully, successful) attempt to line up the spline and get that sucker in place.

 

[metalhead140]

Yep, you've brought it all back Andrew - I can almost feel the weight of a Muncie crushing my ribs as I contemplate the next (hopefully, successful) attempt to line up the spline and get that sucker in place.

You know what I'm talking about! I couldn't really believe it, I'm out there, adjust the jack so the box is at the same angle as the engine, roll it forward, two attempts and wait, is it home? No way! Couldn't believe it, actually started laughing. No wonder mechanics don't like doing this sort of work at home, I never imagined it could be that easy! That's normally a hour at least of struggling on my back in the dirt to get to that point!

 

[sean Buick 76]

Awesome!

 

[1/2 Cup]

You know what I'm talking about! I couldn't really believe it, I'm out there, adjust the jack so the box is at the same angle as the engine, roll it forward, two attempts and wait, is it home? No way! Couldn't believe it, actually started laughing. No wonder mechanics don't like doing this sort of work at home, I never imagined it could be that easy! That's normally a hour at least of struggling on my back in the dirt to get to that point!

I am hearing you in regard to groveling und a car..

 

[metalhead140]

Well, spent some time working in the garage today. Pulled the radiator from the B and took it into town to have a leak fixed and the side mount reattached. Got back home early afternoon, dropped it back in, fixed a weeping welsh plug (strange to have had two in different cars recently!) and took it for a test drive. All good, no leaks, ready to run in the club hillclimb next Sunday. Decided to pull the engine and box in the Midget, but pulled it out for a quick rinse with the hose first, as it was filthy with dust. While it was out, welded some flanges into the exhaust for the f250. Just waiting on a uni joint and a brake line now and it will be back in service. Cleaned up and put away some tools that were still out and filthy from working on the f250, and pushed the Midget back in ready for teardown. Called it a day at that point.

 

[1/2 Cup]

Sounds like you have had a pretty productive day Andrew.

Its always great sense of accomplishment to get through that much in day..

Regards

 

[metalhead140]

Thanks 1/2 cup. It actually feels a little futile at the moment as I don't feel like I'm ever completing any of the jobs! But it was good to make the progress. I'm going to put a todo list here given I still haven't picked up a whiteboard for the garage.

F250
Fill gearbox with oil
Bleed clutch
Replace rear brake line
Bleed brakes
Replace uni
Replumb coolant hoses for heater
Fill with coolant
Also, but not needed immediately:
Replace drivers window channel
Replace floor pans
Replace door seals
Replace carpet
Replace speedo cable

Midget:
Pull engine and box
Take to dellows to check dimensions of bellhousing
Fabricate adaptor to fit hydraulic throw out bearing
Refit engine and box
Also, but not needed immediately:
Replace upper outer passenger side bush
Replace leaf bushes
Fit supercharger and water injection
Fit roll bar, harnesses, buckets

Hmm... Lots of things on those lists. No wonder I feel a little swamped.

 

[sean Buick 76]

Keep up the good progress!

 

[1/2 Cup]

The fact that you have a list is a great start, I do one thing at a time then tick it off as I complete it.

Regards

 

[metalhead140]

Thanks guys. Not much done today. Went and grabbed some tools I needed for pulling the engine from the container at my father in laws this morning, then had family commitments most of the day and sorted out my enrolment for some uni this evening. Did duck out to the garage a few minutes ago with Jenna and she helped me pull the bonnet off the Midget. Means that I can hopefully pull the engine and box during the evenings this week.

 

[metalhead140]

Forgot how much nicer it is to work on clean stuff!

 

[metalhead140]

Got a bit more time in the garage tonight. Feels good to be working on the Midget after having it languish all year, and I need the stress relief. Grill, radiator and radiator cross pipe removed, alternator and dizzy wiring disconnected, exhaust, oil cooler, temperature gauge probe, accelerator cable and fuel line disconnected. Just realised I haven't disconnected the oil pressure gauge line yet, but after that I just need to pull the starter, disconnect the box, and then I'm ready to unbolt the engine mounts and rip it out. Picture taken just before dinner, I got some of the above done after dinner. Not bad for what was less than an hours unrushed work, but I am a bit too familiar with pulling this engine, and it's a lot less complicated than most...

 

[sean Buick 76]

Looking good!

 

[metalhead140]

A little more time in the garage tonight. Fixed the electric thermo fan on the B first. Then onto the Midget. Engine out:



And gearbox out:



Now I'm free to enjoy valentines day with Jenna tomorrow and driving the B in the hillclimb on Sunday, and I am ready to head to Sydney to visit Dellows on Monday to hopefully sort out this gearbox. There's got to be something out of alignment, it's actually broken the adapting spigot bush this time, which has less than 5000km on it. Fingers crossed I can get it sorted once and for all this time around. Otherwise I'm going to be binning this gearbox conversion I think, which would be a real shame as (disregarding the large sums of time and money spent on it to this point) it's really nice when it's working.

 

[madoc1]

what are the details on the gear box conversion? I can't remember what the trans on my sprite looked like, but the engine sure is familiar. but I painted mine blue instead of the original sprite green.

 

[metalhead140]

Toyota t50 (alloy, split case) 5 speed. As fitted to some rear wheel drive Corollas and Celicas. Fitted with an aftermarket bellhousing made by Dellows to mate it with the 1275. It is a really nice little box to use, and a lot stronger than the ribcase while not much heavier, with the advantages of a 5th gear and synchro first. Unfortunately I've had nothing but trouble with it, in the ~15,000km since I rebuilt the car and converted the gearbox I think this is the 5th time I've pulled the engine and box, as the clutch stops disengaging properly. (ie it won't release when you put your foot on the clutch). I really hope they can find the problem and that this is the last time it will be out. Otherwise I'll be looking for another option.

 

[1/2 Cup]

I hate not being able to put my finger on an problem like that Andrew, if you get a chance grab some pics of the box disassembled. Sounds like an alignment problem to me??

Is the fly wheel running true??

Regards

 

[metalhead140]

Sorry, didn't really get any pics, but this time around, it had destroyed:

- spigot bush - this is an adaptor bush, with one end being the correct OD to fit inside the end of the crank, the other end (which protrudes from the flywheel) has a larger OD and the correct ID to support the end of the input shaft. The bush was broken in half, separating the two ends
- bolts holding the bracket that is the clutch fork pivot to the bellhousing, resulting in clutch fork / release bearing floating loose and
- release bearing - a roller release bearing designed to replace the original carbon release bearing, had been in contact with the input shaft, resulting in separation and destruction.
- scoring on the input shaft splines from release bearing

All in <3000km...

 

[1/2 Cup]

Not nice Andrew.

 

[metalhead140]

You know 1/2 cup, my wife was talking with me tonight over dinner about when we first did the install, and she remembered something I'd completely forgotten that I think is probably the cause of all these problems we've had. Of course I dropped the box and bellhousing at dellows today, so I can't check... Typical! I'll give them a call tomorrow I think, but I'm pretty sure we've hit on the problem, and it's all my stupid fault...

Anyway, I was going to post about yesterday. Got up early to try and get things ready. I hadn't run in a speed event for over 5 years (and Jenna hadn't run one at all before) so had to remember all the things we needed.



Checked and topped up fluids, packed some tools etc



Gave the car a quick bath, as it was completely filthy. When I was done it now looks like it just needs a good wash and it will look good, lol!



And headed off. I did mean to take a bunch of photos of the cars and stuff, but I forgot. Here's Jenna setting off for a run though.



It was a good day, glad we got out and did it, will have to be a bit more organised next time. Jenna had a good time and was running very well by the end. The B is pretty slow (dead stock 1800 except for exhaust, stock late model mgb 4wd ride height and big heavy rubber bumpers, basically only advantage is good tyres), but we had fun anyway. I have video of a couple of our runs, just taken on a phone for us to look at and see how we did, but I could probably post a couple if anyone's interested.

Today I took the day off work and drove down to Sydney to talk to dellows about the issues with the midget box. I left it with them, but as I say, I suspect Jenna and I actually worked out what the problem will be this evening... Oh well!

 

[sean Buick 76]

Thanks for the update and good luck with that gear box!